It is over ten years since we instigated a
project to reforest a small plot of land in Ecuador, done to offset the carbon
emissions associated with our tours. Although the project was based on carbon
sequestration over a 20 year period (and no doubt beyond that time too), we
thought it high time we should do something else.

Initially we looked for another grand project,
but then settled on the idea of creating an annual conservation fund that could
be awarded to a worthwhile cause either at home or abroad. Our hope is to find
projects where we know that all the money will go directly to conservation, to
get the most ‘bang for our buck’. We are thrilled to announce our first award,
which will go to the Fundacion Imaymana, towards the creation of a green
corridor between their reserves of Mashpi Shungo and Mashpi Protected Forest.

Fundacion Imaymana is an Ecuadorian
conservation organisation dedicated to the sustainable management of natural
resources and the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems in one of
the richest places on earth, Ecuador’s Choco region. Our local guide in Ecuador,
Alejandro Solano, lives on the Mashpi Shungo reserve, where he runs an organic
cocoa plantation and artisanal chocolate factory.

The reserves are famous for their Choco endemic
birds, the Rufous-crowned Antpitta and Banded Ground-cuckoo being the two most
highly sought-after. Amazingly, Alejandro has managed to habituate an antpitta,
which will occasionally come for food in the same way that a European Robin
will follow a gardener who is turning the soil. Even if you fail to find these
two ace rarities, there are very many birds to look for and no visitor to the
area comes away empty handed. Grey-and-gold Tanager, Golden-winged Manakin,
Choco Toucan and Long-wattled Umbrellabird are just a few of the many birds
found here. Mammals too are well represented, but are, as always, much harder to
spot.

Some of you will be familiar with Alejandro’s
produce. He gave a lovely presentation about his chocolate farm to our NE
Ecuador group last January, as well as some even lovelier tasters! Paul brought
back some bars and shared them out at the Rutland Birdfair, where they went down
a treat.

Currently,
the land between these two reserves is owned by various local farmers, and the
Fundacion Imaymana hopes to raise
several thousand US Dollars to make the purchase. Bird Holidays is donating all
of its first conservation fund to this project, and we would also like to
encourage others to consider helping. If you would like some more information,
or perhaps make a donation please get in touch with us.

John presents Alejandro with our donation towards their
project, which plans to extend the existing reserve, creating a corridor between
Mashpi Shungo and Mashpi Protected
Forest.

Looking across to Mashpi Ridge you can see a patchwork of
forest and degraded areas which are hopefully to become part of the regeneration
project.

Much of the land now has little value to farming.

Alejandro explains about his project and his future plans.

Birding on the farm is very rewarding, since the shade-grown
cocoa trees are planted amongst many larger trees.

Cocoa seeds being dried.

The finished product, artisanal chocolate boxed up and ready
for sale.

Exploring the rest of the reserve, you enter an area where
the forest has been allowed to regenerate.

Trails lead to the only place in the world where the Rufous-crowned Antpitta is reliably found.

Local guide Danillo has been trained by Alejandro to lead
bird walks and show people the amazing
Rufous-crowned Antpitta.

The star bird showed well for John when he
visited in 2018. The Rufous-crowned
Antpitta is endemic to the Choco region of northern Ecuador and western Colombia
and is almost impossible to see anywhere else. Recently it has been established
that it is not an antpitta at all, and is more closely related to the gnateaters.